Improvement in gate-hinges



@uitrit tats getint @Hire IMPROVEMENT IN GATE-HINGBS.,

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONGERN:

`Be it known that I, D. H. GOULD, of Troy, in the county' of Rensselaer, and State of New York,l have.

invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gate-Hinges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this spceication.

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of the hinge, with the leaf supporting the gate swung to the right hand.

Figure 2, a similar view, with theleaf swung to the left.

Figure 8, a vertical section through the joints of the hinge, with the leaves closed together.'

Like letters of refeiencc`-indicate corresponding parts in all the'figures.

This hinge is of that class having forked bearings employed 'at the bottom of gates for closing the gate hy its gravity when its bottom is thrown from the-vertical axis of the upper hinge.

My invention is an improvement on that patented to Field and Carruthers, October 30, 1866, No. 59,202,

hand consists in the employment of a horizontal har connecting the lower sides of the jaws, the object being to furnish a guide to carry and retain`thc jointed braces in place as the hinge closes, and thus obviatc any difficulty in shutting from wear or from looseness of the pivots.

The drawings represent an arrangement of hinge similar to thatofField and Carruthers. The hinge consists of two principal parts,.A B, attaching respectively to the bottom of the gate and to the post. The part A has simpiy a rigid bearing or flange, for the support of the hinge. The part B has two forked or branching jaws d d', and these jaws are formed with slots c e in the ends, whichl leave upper and lower sidesfg thereto, as clearly shown. Above the bearing I) is sitated a swing-brace, h, and beneath said bearing is situated a similar swing-brace, h. Brace h is pivoted at z' to the upper side fof jaw d, and brace t is pivoted at z" to the lower sideg of jaw d. At the opposite ends the braces are pivoted respectively at 7c k to the bearing b. Thus it will be seen that when the jaws close up in shutting the hinge, they enclose or embrace the parts h h b, as clearly shown in iig. 3.

Thus arranged, the gate is allowed the ordinary swinging action in either direction, and the bottom, being thrown fromthe centre, will be self-closing by the weight of the gate. The braces being pivoted to thejaws, and being pivoted to the bearing, will prevent the hinge from getting displaced. Thus far the arrangement is the same as that patented to the parties before mentioned. In Field and Carruthers hinge, the jaws d d are separate and disconnected. The whole weight of the bottom of the gate comes upon thc pivoted bearings of these jaws. In swinging the gate closed from its open position, as in iig. I, the bar 7i will be folded into the jaws, as indicated, and will serve as a. support and guide to the bearing b, which rests on top. But in swinging the gate closed from its opposite open position, as in'iig. 2, this brace t will be extended, and the opposite one, h, above the bearing b, will bc folded in. Therefore, in this arrangement, there is no support or guido to the .brace 7L and the bearing l), except the open and disconnected jaw to which they are connected. If the bearing surface at the jaws wears down, or if any wear of the pivots occurs, or if the pivots are fitted loosely or work at.

an angle, the parts, in closing, will strike below thc level of `the opposite jaw, and will not enter, thus causing diiiculty. I obviate this difiieulty by casting or forming a bar, 2), between the lower sides g g of the opposite jaws, on a level with the bearings of the jaws, which bar performs the same service in guiding and supporting the parts as docs the brace 7L', as at first mentioned. This bar is of the utmost importance,`for it always retains the parts in position to close properly, and there can be no difficulty occurring from wear or imperfection of the pivots in closing the gate. Thisiconnection also serves to strengthen the lower sides of the jaws, where the greatest strain comes, and prevent the great danger of breakage in cold weather if violence is applied to the gate. If desired, a similar connection may be made between the upper sides of the jaws; and indeed the whole space between the jaws may be boxed in, but this is not considered essential under ordinary circumstances. This arrangement might be applied to hinges in which a single brace, in place of a combination of braces, is used. I do not limit myself to thc precise arrangement shown.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of the .bar p in combination with the jaws d d', serving as a guide and support to the parts folding within the jaws, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. H. GOULD.

Witnesses: A

R. F. Oscoop, J. A.- DAVIS. 

